May 15, 2007

Congress Approval Down to 29%; Bush Approval Steady at 33%

Both ratings are slightly lower than 2007 averages


by Joseph Carroll



GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- A new Gallup Poll finds continued low levels of public support for both Congress and President George W. Bush. Twenty-nine percent of Americans approve of Congress, down slightly from last month's reading (33%) and this year's high point of 37%, while Bush's approval rating is holding steady at 33%. Both the ratings of Congress and the president are slightly lower than their respective 2007 averages. Approval ratings of Congress are higher among Democrats than Republicans, while Bush's ratings are much higher among Republicans.
Congressional Job Approval
According to the May 10-13, 2007, Gallup Poll, 29% of Americans approve and 64% disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job. Congressional approval is down 4 percentage points since last month, and is 3 points lower than the 32% average measured during the first five months of the year. The high point for the congressional approval rating so far this year was the 37% approval measured in February. Although ratings are quite low, Americans have been more positive in their assessments of Congress this year than last year, when an average of just 25% approved of Congress.
Even though Democrats now control both houses of Congress, the poll shows that only 37% of Democrats approve of the job Congress is doing right now. These marks are, however, significantly better than those given to Congress by independents (24%) and Republicans (25%). Democrats have been more likely than Republicans to approve of Congress this year, whereas Republicans expressed a higher level of approval prior to the change of power experienced after the midterm congressional elections in November 2006.
So far this year, Republicans' approval of Congress has gradually declined, from a high of 37% in mid-January to 25% in the latest poll. By comparison, ratings among Democrats have shown more fluctuation, ranging between 33% and 44% since January, and are down 6 points this month since early April. More generally, Democrats' ratings of the job the Democratic-controlled Congress is doing are down from a higher point of 44% in February, which is just after the control of Congress switched from the Republicans to the Democrats.
Presidential Job Approval
There has been little meaningful change in the public's rating of the president in quite some time. Thirty-three percent of Americans now approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president, while 62% disapprove. Bush's approval ratings have averaged 35% in 2007, and have fallen within a narrow range between 32% and 38%. Bush's ratings were slightly higher last year, averaging 38%. Bush has not received an approval rating above 40% in any Gallup polling since September 2006.
Republicans continue to be much more likely than independents or Democrats to support the president. Seventy-three percent of Republicans approve of Bush, substantially higher than the 27% approval among independents and the 9% approval among Democrats. Although the three party groups' ratings of Bush's job approval have been quite stable in recent months, since last May presidential approval ratings have shown somewhat more fluctuation among Republicans (ranging between 68% and 86%) than among independents (23% to 36%) or Democrats (4% to 15%).
Survey Methods
Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,003 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted May 10-13, 2007. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

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Liberals are people that will believe anything twice.

^^^*LOL*

Could you imagine if the MSM beat up on Congress as they do on GWB, how much lower their rating would be?

Hahahahaha....
Single digits is my estimate!

That blinky Pelosi has the MSM on her side.......priceless!
Great job Nancy!

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If you wind up with a boring, miserable life because you listened to your mom, your dad, your teacher, your priest or some guy on TV telling you how to do your shit, then YOU DESERVE IT.
~ Frank Zappa ~

Liberty means responsibility, that is why most men dread it.
~George Bernard Shaw~

All the Republicans need now is another Barry Goldwater or a Ronald Reagan. Let's watch the debate tonight on Fox to see if anyone steps up to the plate.

My guess is that Fred Thompson and Newt Gringrich will throw their hats into the ring soon. Wishful thinking has me wishing that Alan Keyes makes a run for it too. America hasn't had a true stateman in the presidency since Reagan, IMO.

Vi

PS: Wavels ...

Blinky Pelosi's trip to Syria, Harry (uncle!) Reid and the Democrat Party's lack of funding support for our troops is enough to bury them in '08, IMHO. They ran on a centrist platform and as soon as they were elected they started to pander to the moveon.org crowd. American don't like being cheated.

__________________
Liberals are people that will believe anything twice.

Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,003 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted May 10-13, 2007. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls............................................. ........ I won't argue with you guys on congress' approval ratings, they are deservedly in the tank. Why the gutless Democrats won't take Bush to task is revolting. Why they won't cut the funding is spineless. As much as I despise the greedy asshole republicans, their thieving lying ways, I also hold the Democrats responsible for every death in Iraq from this day forward. They are the party of bullshit. They talk one thing and do another. When my senators come up for re-election, I'll vote for a rock, before I'll vote for them. As far as I'm concerned, I'll vote against any incumbents, period.

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Life is good, the water is sweet. The ground keeps moving beneath my feet.

You must be elated to have awakened from that deep coma you've been in for the past year, Med.

Vi

__________________
Liberals are people that will believe anything twice.

As much as I despise the greedy asshole republicans, their thieving lying ways, I also hold the Democrats responsible for every death in Iraq from this day forward. They are the party of bullshit.They talk one thing and do another........................................... ............................ You forgot the first part of the sentence. I am revulsed by the whole political situation at present and can't see any light at the end of the long dark tunnel.

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Life is good, the water is sweet. The ground keeps moving beneath my feet.

Yeah, but you've finally stepped up to the plate and saw the light as far as the Democrat Party goes.

Vi

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Liberals are people that will believe anything twice.

I'll admit, they are pretty sad. It's back to the lessor of two evils thingy. Here's my current ticket, see if you agree. Split ticket: Ron Paul-Mike Gravel, Box them, an old horse players nom for either one for pres or vice

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Life is good, the water is sweet. The ground keeps moving beneath my feet.

Quick! Get ready! Get out the baloons and streamers! The Libertarians in our midsts are winning Med over. *lol*

Vi

__________________
Liberals are people that will believe anything twice.

I'm not going for all his agenda, but he's one of the most honest politicians to come down the pike! What about Mike Gravel, can you not see his agenda as a positive?

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Life is good, the water is sweet. The ground keeps moving beneath my feet.